FBI using polygraph tests amid efforts to plug widespread internal leaks: Report

U.S. intelligence agencies are aiming to weed out whistleblowers to plug leaks of sensitive

information to the media and using technology more than 100 years old to do it

FBI Director Kash Patel ordering the Bureau to begin polygraph tests to find anyone it believes

is leaking information hurtful to its operations, as first reported by The Washington Post

The enhanced tactics have reportedly led to a culture of fear within national security agencies

In response to the Post's report, a spokesperson says serious leaks led to the deployment of polygraph tests but did not offer specifics on information shared

The move follows Attorney General Pam Bondi's legal directives, advising the Department of Justice to subpoena journalists, personal communications

and widen criteria for legal action against leaks of not just classified material

but privileged and sensitive information the Trump administration finds is designed to sow chaos and distrust in the government

Officials warn the broader scope of efforts to combat leaks may include

information the Trump administration sees as embarrassing or out of line with its views

as reasons for firing or prosecution. Officials note a worsening environment following the firing of the head of the NSA

General Timothy Hough earlier this month His firing also came amid dozens of Department of Homeland Security cybersecurity officials being laid off and forced into early retirement

The Pentagon has also been impacted by departures recently after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

let go of several top aides after he was reportedly angered by leaks to news agencies

involving sensitive communications with defense officials. The move by the FBI to employ so-called

lie detector test follows a call from Trump ally Laura Loomer calling for National Intelligence

Director Tulsi Gabbard to polygraph every single intelligence employee in an effort to clean house

of suspected leakers, particularly those who served under President Biden. Gabbard recently

announced her agency provided criminal referrals connected to a number of leaks, promising

cooperations with the DOJ in finding and charging leakers. Stephen Aftergood, who is an expert in

intelligence policy, however, says polygraphs are not truly lie detectors. They're actually

stress detectors, saying polygraphs do not measure truth of falsity. They measure stress

The Trump administration defends its previous efforts against the source of leaks

arguing it's fighting to end what it deems the weaponization of law enforcement it says was

pursued under Biden. For more unbiased updates, download the Straight Arrow News app or go to san.com